Three reasons why you should get your passport before booking travel

15 January 2023

Three reasons why you should get your passport before booking travel 

  1. You can only apply for a visa with a valid passport. Allocate a couple of weeks (depending on the foreign embassy or consulate) from when you get your passport to apply for your visas.  

  2. Some countries need proof you’re vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter. If you were vaccinated in Australia, you can use an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate as evidence.  This certificate is linked to the passport you’re travelling on. You can find out about the requirements of the country you’re visiting on the Smartraveller website.  

  3. It can take a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew your old one. Some applications, including first-time and child applications, can take longer.  

If you’ve already booked your trip and need a passport, please call 131 232 to let us know your travel dates. 

If you can’t wait at least six weeks for your passport, you can use our priority passport processing service. For more information, visit our urgent applications page 

For more tips on planning your travel, visit smartraveller.gov.au